Novak Djokovic Stuns Roger Federer, Reaches Second US Open Final

Novak Djokovic produced some obliterating tennis to stun five-time champion Roger Federer in New York and reach his second US Open Final.

The Serb produced arguably his best tennis since winning the Australian Open in 2008, hitting some ridiculous ground strokes and dominating the Swiss for large periods of a fluctuating match.

Djokovic, who saved two match points, clinched victory in just over three and a half hours, thwarting a seventh successive Final at Flushing Meadows for Federer by taking it 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.

Fluctuating

Both men appeared out of sorts at the start of the first set and Federer's serve was duly broken in the sixth game, only for Djokovic to squander his advantage by failing to capitalize on the break and allowing the second seed back in.

The Swiss broke again in the eleventh game and served out the set.

But it wasn't a forgone conclusion, Djokovic broke Federer from 40-15 down at the start of the second, racing to a 3-0 lead. The Serb continued in a rich vain of form to take the set 6-1.

It was Federer's worst scoreline in a set at the US Open since Andre Agassi dealt him a 6-1 back in the day.

The world No. 2 picked up his game in the third as the match became more evenly contested, with very few unforced errors and some sublime winners.

It was the Swiss, though, that showed just why he has sixteen Grand Slam titles under his belt, raising his game at the business end of the set and breaking Djokovic in the 12th game to take it 7-5.

Djokovic showed good mental strength to bounce back from the disappointment by quickly snapping up the fourth set with two breaks of serve.

Nerveless

The final set saw tennis taken to a new level with both men hitting extraordinary heights, Djokovic especially, who's consistency and nerve was unreal.

Federer escaped what was at first a routine service game at 3-3 from 40-0 up, only to be pegged back to deuce numerous times.

The match continued on serve until the tenth game when the Swiss Maestro flew out of the blocks to earn himself two match points at 15-40.

Federer got the ball back in play from two second serves, asking questions of Djokovic, but the inhumanly nerveless third seed had all the answers—a drive volley followed by a pummeling inside-out forehand.

Djokovic raised the bar again—if that was possible—and broke in the 11th game after two Federer forehands went a stray.

Federer gave himself a lifeline but squandered a couple of break-back points before sending another forehand wayward to give the Serb a deserved win.

Pleasure

"It's really hard to describe the feeling I have right now," Djokovic said. "It was just a big pleasure playing in this kind of match."

He now faces Rafael Nadal in the final, who should provide stern resistance, but on this form Djokovic has every chance of claiming his second Grand Slam title.